Texas Supreme Court justice will resign (UPDATE)

The former Harris County district judge was elected to the state’s highest civil court in November 2002 and is already the third longest-serving justice on the court.

“I greatly enjoyed private practice, and it is time to return to it,” Wainwright said in a statement. He had just heard arguments Tuesday, along with the rest of the court, in a lawsuit challenging the state’s business tax. Justices are paid $150,000 annually (though the chief justice gets a bit more). Private practice can be far more lucrative.

Wainwright and his wife live in Austin with their 15-year-old son. Their two adult sons live in California and Austin.

Gov. Rick Perry will appoint a successor to fill out Wainwright’s term, which ends in 2014. The appointment will be subject to Senate confirmation.

(In the photo, Wainwright is in the front row, sitting to the left of Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, who is in the center).

UPDATE: Perry spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said, “The governor appreciates Justice Wainwright’s committed service to the state. The governor’s office will move forward with the regular appointments process, and ultimately appoint the individual best suited to serve the people of Texas.”